Plan B’s music career mentor launches scheme for creative entrepreneurs

MeWe360 to provide up to £250,000 and mentoring support to under-represented entrepreneurs

by Abigail Van-West

Updated: Oct 2, 2018 Published: Feb 28, 2013

Members-only network service for entrepreneurs MeWe360 has launched an incubator, designed to provide entrepreneurs in the creative sector with funding and support.

Founded by Kevin Osborne, whose support programme for disadvantaged musicians Tribal Tree previously mentored acts including Plan B and Fazer from N-Dubz, the scheme is open to all entrepreneurs.

However, particular focus will be offered to individuals from under-represented social groups, including people from black and Asian communities and female business owners with children.

The £2m scheme backed by Arts Council England, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Ingenious Media and McKenna Charitable Trust will offer up to £250,000 to early-stage creative businesses, in industries such as music and art.

Through the programme MeWe360 start-up members are to receive mentoring to help them reach an investment ready stage, before being offered the chance to apply for the funding – profits of which will be invested back into the scheme.

Priced at £1,350 per year, membership to the incubator includes 10 hours of business coaching, 80 hours of flexible workspace hire and access to 16 business events.

Founder Osborne commented: “The UK’s cup of creative talent is brimming over but it needs to be nurtured and invested in or it will simply go to waste – a missed opportunity for society and the economy.

“MeWe360 is this unique fusion that will give our home-grown entrepreneurs the best chance at creative and commercial success and a future new talent pool for investors.”